Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Dato Sri Edmund Langgu Anak Saga, 74 was born at Rumah Ulak, Sungai Kelampai in the Saratok land district. He is a descendant of Orang Kaya Beti from Padeh, Betong, Sarawak. He joined the Batu Lintang Teacher’s Training College in Kuching and latee taughts for several years. Before Malaysia was formed in 1963, he decided to enter the political arena and was being elected as a district councillor and the divisional Advisory Councillor with the Second Division of Sarawak.
During the general election, he was elected as the Member of Parliarment for Saratok - a seat that he held for a period of almost twenty five years. He also held several portfolios over the last four decades as a Deputy Federal Minister and as well as a Malaysian National Opposition leader. He was also the assemblyman for Krian constituency for the period of two five year terms.
He has held several important positions in two political parties as a secretary-general and a vice president for both the Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS).
Dato Sri Edmund Langgu also held other posts, including as a Chairman of The Malaysian Pepper Marketing Board, Chairman of The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board of Sarawak, as a Member of The Malaysian Public Accounts Committee, Sarawak, Brooke Dockyard Board and Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.
Currently Dato Sri Edmund Langgu is a consultant with The Tun Jugah Foundation, where he is as an editor and contributor on research and studies on Iban language, culture and tradition. He is also a chariman of a new comprehensive Iban dictionary, scheduled for publication by the Foundation sometime in the near future. With his deep Knowledge of and personnel experience in the Iban culture, history, song, proverbs, law, language and tradition, he has been invited to give talks and is a regular speaker on Radio Malaysia Sarawak.

James Ritchie, 60, ia a journalist of 35 tears. He was recruited as a cadet reporter by the New Strait Times in 1972 and he worked as a sports reporter before joining the NST Crime Desk in Kuala Lumpur. After a two year stint as the Seremban correspondent he was transferred to Kuching as NSTs correspondent. During his 28 years on Sarawak, Ritchie has written numerous stories, articles and special reports on local affaiers.He later joined the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department as a Public Relation Officer, the Borneo Post as a media consultant and at various times worked for the Sarawak Tribune, Borneo Post, The Star and Eastern Times.Ritchie has a penchant for writing about politics, famous Sarawak personalities and historical figures. He has authored several books including Bruno Manser: The Inside Story, A Gentleman’s victory for Taib Mahmud, A political Saga, Sarawak Awakens – Politics Of Development, Changes and Challenges 1998, Life Story of Temenggong Koh, Honour Before Self, Tun Ahmad Zaidi – Son Of Sarawak, Man Eating Crocodiles of Borneo, Abdul Taib Mahmud – 41 Years in News, Who Gives a Dam – The Bakun Odysey, Limbang – the Crown Jewel of Sarawak and Temenggong Oyong Lawai Jau – A Paramount Chief of The Baram.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

When Libau RENTAP realised that it was useless for him to defend the fortress of Bukit Sadok any longer, he commanded his war men to leave it from the opposite side of the mountain. Now the attacking party of Tuan Muda Charles Brooke under cover of the musket shot, rushed over the neck of the rock and entered the fortress through the holes made by the shots from “Bujang Sadok”.They found that Libau RENTAP and his war men had escaped except for the dead and dying. Inside the fortress they also found the arms captured by Libau RENTAP when he fought against Alan Lee and William Brereton at Lintang Batang stockade in 1853. A large quantity of gun powder and the famous one armed iron cannon named the “Bujang Timpang Berang”. That afternoon the Sarawak Government Forces attacking party burnt down Libau RENTAP fortress at Bukit Sadok. A guns was fired and in ten minutes a tongue of flame shot up into the sky with thick black smokes. At dusk the summit of Bukit Sadok was seen burning for miles and miles away. It marked the end of Libau RENTAP’s power over the White Rajah’s and his long career as a great Dayak Iban war leader where he got the title of Raja Ulu, but he won’t surrender his life to the White Rajah’s.Libau RENTAP and his war men did not surrender but retreated to Bukit Lanjak Entimau at the headwaters of Batang Skrang, Lemanak and Engkari. He then moved down to the Ulu Entabai the branch of Kanowit and Julau and made another fortress at Bukit Setulak. At his old ages he moved to Karangan Panggil in Ulu Wak, Pakan and died at old ages in the year 1870. He was not buried, but his remains was kept according to the symbol of the Dayak Iban warrior, but honourably laid down to rest in peace in a mortuary known by the Dayak Iban as “Lumbong”. His tomb, the “Lumbong” is still intact today located at the summit of Bukit Sibau at the headwaters of Budu/Kabo River of Saratok and Wak River of Pakan. His remains was before kept in a large ceramic jar but it was later placed inside a coffin after the reburial of his remains was done in October, 1989 which was done by the Sarawak State Government in the Dayak Iban traditional heroes burial ceremony named Gawai Ngelombong.Libau RENTAP’s principal enemy, Sir James Brooke the first White Rajah of Sarawak was born in India on 29th.april, 1803. he was proclaimed the Rajah of Sarawak on 24th.September, 1841 and retired due to ill health in 1863, about two years later after the defeat of Libau RENTAP at Bukit Sadok on 25th.October,1861. He died at Burrator, England on 11th.June,1868 at the age of sixty five and buried at Sheepstor Churchyard.Another principal enemy of Libau RENTAP’s was Sir Charles Brooke, the Second White Rajah of Sarawak who was born on 3rd.June,1829 at Berrow Vicarage near Burnham, Somersethire, England. He was proclaimed Rajah in place of his uncle Sir James Brooke on 3rd.August,1868. he died on 17th.May,1917 at ther age of eighty eight and was buried beside the tomb of his uncle, Sir James Brooke.Nanang who plaed a key role at the time of the final Sadok War Expedition on 28th.October,1861 received his father’s title of “Orang Kaya Pemancha” from the Second White Rajah, Sir Charles Brookeat a ceremony at Fort Alice at Simanggang (now known as Sri Aman) in 1882. he served the Government Of Sarawak as a member of the Supreme Council representing the people of Upper Saribas until his death in 1901. he was succeeded by his son, Penghulu Insoll of Buloh Antu, Padeh until 1912.Libau RENTAP was a man of principal. He swore that he would never see the face of a White Man again in his life. He met several defeats but never surrendered. He had been branded as a great rebelious Dayak Iban War Leader, hunted high and low and yet he manged to live until he met his natural death during the period of his retirement from active war fighting. He fought gallantly defending his country land and his people from several attacks made by the intruders until his whole power was broken on 28th.October,1861 but not his life.His name is still mentioned and remembered today as a great Dayak Iban Chief and Dayak Iban War Leader and aslo the the Hero Of Bukit Sadok in the history of Sarawak and Malaysia.

After the death of their famous brother Aji Apai Limpa, the other two well known brothers named Nanang and Luyoh, the sons of Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana Bayang strongly supported Libau RENTAP. They built a stockade at another ridge below the fortress of Libau RENTAP’s at Bukit Sadok.According to the written record, Libau RENTAP had descended from his strong hold on the Bukit Sadok and he carried off a young girl and made her the Rani of Bukit Sadok.It was resolved in September, 1861 that the Sarawak Government Forces under the command of Tuan Muda Charles Brooke should finally attack Bukit Sadok for the third time. Thus on 16th.October,1861 the war expedition was ready to go up the Batang Saribas and destroy Libau RENTAP. In addition to the usual party of the Malays and the Dayaks there were also some twenty Chinese labourers to make their paths through the thick jungle and to carry a large twelve pounder brass cannon specially cast for the ocassion in Kuching. The cannon was given the name of “Bujang Sadok”. It is still on display at the Police Museum in the Fort Margherita in Kuching.On the 20th.October,1861 the Sarawak Government Forces led by the Tuan Muda Charles Brooke sent two messengers (seruan), named Jabu and Ngadan of Bangat, Betong to summon Nanang and Luyoh to a meeting which led to their submission. Their submission was accepted by Tuan Muda Charles Brooke on condition that they would pay a fine of forty valuable ceramic jars named “Tajau Rusa”. The ceramic jars were retained by the Government of Sarawak at Skrang Fort for three years. Nanang and Luyoh kept their promises and remained loyal to the rule of the White Rajah. Eventually the ceramic jars were returned to them after that.When Libau RENTAP heard about the two brothers of Nanang and Luyoh had surrendered without consulting him first , he was very angry and sent down a party of his men to burnt down their longhouses which was closed to his fortress at the Bukit Sadok.The Tuan Muda Charles Brooke detailed sixty men to carry the twelve pounder brass canon named “Bujang Sadok” up the mountain of Bukit Sadok It took them four hours to reach the summit of Bukit Sadok, fortunately Libau RENTAP did not attack them on their way.At half past four in the morning of 28th.October,1861 the “Bujang Sadok” was placed in position ready for action to destroy Libau RENTAP. But due to a dense mist at that early hours the cannon could not be used. When the mist was cleared away after half past seven, a strong wind came and rendered the rocket useless. Later on “Bujang Sadok” was put into action but after the seventeenth round , the carriage gave way. However, it had done part of its duty in tearing away certain parts of the stockade of the Libau RENTAP Bukit Sadok fortress.Libau RENTAP returned the fire with famous one armed iron cannon named “Bujang Timpang Berang” which was formerly belonging to Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana Bayang, the father of Nanang and Luyoh. According to the story , Libau RENTAP’s gunner was killed by a shot from “Bujang Sadok”. His blood soaked the gunpowder which put “Bujang Timpang Berang” out of action.